J. Robb - Bump in The Night

One of them had to be sensible.

Head spinning, chest heaving, he drew on every last ounce of willpower and managed to lift his head.

Unwilling to completely break contact, he kept his hands at her shoulders and looked down into her eyes while he waited for his heartbeat to settle. „I hope you’re not expecting an apology. The truth is, I’ve been wanting to kiss you like that since I woke earlier and saw you lying beside me.“

„I suppose I should at least thank you for your honesty.“ She gave a shaky laugh, wondering if her heart would ever return to its normal rhythm. Just standing this close, his hands touching her, had her pulse thundering out of control.

„All right. Time for true confessions.“ He was studying her through narrowed eyes. „I wanted to act on that impulse sooner, but I was afraid.“

„You?“ She tossed her head. „Fearless world athlete? I find that hard to believe.“

„Maybe I was afraid you weren’t real. That you were a figment of my overwrought imagination. Or that you’d run away before I had a chance to know you better.“

With that glint of humor in his eyes, she couldn’t tell if he was serious or having fun with her. Either way, his smile was contagious. He was far too tempting. And too close for comfort.

She took a step back and picked up the dish towel before drying her hands. „Sorry I got your shirt wet.“

She tried to appear casual as she picked up the basin of hot water and crossed to the door before tossing the contents outside. When she returned it to the kitchen table she was aware of the way he was watching her. His gaze swept her, lingering on her lips. It was as tempting as any kiss. And had the same strange effect on her, leaving her feeling more aroused than she cared to admit.

He turned away abruptly. „I think I’d better take you up on that offer of a lantern and work on the generator.“

„Why the sudden change of heart?“

His tone was gruff. „I don’t think it’s safe for us to be together just now.“

She felt a quick flutter around her heart and realized that she’d been thinking the same thing. „No need to go on my account. Now that it’s growing dark outside, it’s time to earn my keep. I’m taking my camera to the end of the dock to watch for spirit lights.“

„Better dress in layers. I have a feeling that once the sun goes down, it’ll feel more like winter than autumn out there.“

As Grace watched Josh pick up the lantern, she struggled to keep things light. „While you wrap your mind around rusted machinery, I’ll wrap mine around my assignment.“

He paused and shot her a wicked grin as he turned toward the shed. „I’d rather just have your arms wrapped around me the way they were a minute ago.“

She managed a laugh. „It’s a good thing we both have something important to do. Too much spare time on our hands is definitely dangerous.“

As she made her way by moonlight to the end of the dock, she stared out across the darkened water and found herself desperately hoping to see a light. That was the one thing that would keep her mind off what had just happened.

But what about later tonight? How could she and Josh possibly get through the night in such close quarters?

This cabin was beginning to feel much too small for the two of them.

Josh set the lantern on the floor beside the generator and switched it on. A wide beam of light illuminated the rusted machine. Spying an old army blanket folded on the end of a workbench, he shook it open, intending to spread it out on the floor. But the moment he touched it, he felt an amazing warmth flowing through his veins.

He studied the threadbare fabric. There were no markings on it. Nothing to distinguish it from any other army blanket. Still, he decided that it was too fine to be used in such a cavalier manner. Carefully folding it up, he retrieved an old drop cloth spattered with paint to use instead.

Using a wire brush, he began scrubbing years of rust and corrosion from the first metal part. When it was clean he set it on the cloth before reaching for another.

He’d always enjoyed the challenge of taking machinery apart and putting it back together. There was something so satisfying about finding that one tiny piece, that one overlooked part that would make the entire system hum. Even as a small boy he’d loved fitting pieces of a puzzle together. This chore was much the same, except that the pieces were bigger and more complex.

From his father he’d inherited a sense of curiosity; from his mother, patience. The two traits had held him in good stead through the years.

It was one thing to take things apart and see what made them tick. But as the minutes turned into hours, and the work showed no end in sight, though his persistence never wavered, his concentration shifted and he found his thoughts drifting to Grace Marin and that kiss.

He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been so rocked by a simple kiss. Of course, there’d been nothing simple about it. The moment his mouth touched hers, he’d felt as if some unseen force had taken over his control.

He supposed, if he had to fall this hard, it may as well be with someone not only easy to look at, but easy to be with, as well.

She was a puzzle. A fascinating, complex woman. But there was a sadness he could see in her eyes in unguarded moments. Who was she? What had happened in her past to make her so sad? Looking back over their meal, he realized that, though she’d been a good listener, she’d revealed almost nothing about herself. He figured he would patiently work out the puzzle of Grace, just as he did everything else, given enough time.

Time. There’d been so little of it in recent years. Now he seemed to have more than he needed. Funny how life could change in the space of a minute.

Sitting back on his heels, he studied the generator. As far as he could determine, once it was properly cleaned and oiled, it ought to work. He unscrewed a protective plate and set it aside before tackling the rusted parts underneath. He was looking forward to communicating with the outside world by morning. Not that he expected to need this outdated piece of equipment for that. He had no doubt that the plane carrying the crew would arrive long before he could get this generator up and running. Still, he needed to be prepared in case they were delayed further.

What was keeping them? Had the same sudden atmospheric change that had caused his crash, forced them to land somewhere nearby? He refused to blame the crash on anything else. He knew it hadn’t been pilot error. Though he’d been distracted by his unexpected passenger, he hadn’t done anything to bring about the accident.

He thought about the debris that had once been his plane. If the crew following him had suffered a similar crash, would any of them have survived? He wouldn’t allow himself to think about that. It was simply unimaginable.

And what about his mysterious passenger? Why had there been no sign of her after the crash? He shuddered at the thought that she had perished, her body incinerated beyond recognition. What a cruel injustice, when she’d probably stowed away as a lark. Or maybe, having learned about the proposed television special, had hoped to find a measure of fame.

And then there was Marty’s unease about this place and its reputation. Were there really planes and boats that vanished forever, without a trace?

Unhappy with the direction of his thoughts, he returned his full attention to the generator.

Grace sat at the end of the dock, staring across the darkened water. In a tree by the water’s edge an owl hooted, and nearby, its mate answered. Waves lapped gently against the shore in a steady drumbeat. Wind stirred the leaves of the trees, causing them to rustle softly.